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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Feb. 3, 2025:
General Assembly presents similar FY2026 budget drafts
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
The flagship proposal — in both chambers — is $1.1 billion in tax relief, mostly coming in the form of rebates: $200 for single filers and $400 for joint filers.
“This year, one of the issues that has weighed heavily on my mind is a struggle that working Virginians are feeling from inflation and from the general uncertainty that is currently part of our political environment,” said state Sen. Louise Lucas (D–Portsmouth), chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.
“I think what you see is that we have took a global perspective throughout the budget to try to address the fundamental needs of all of Virginia citizens,” said Del. Luke Torian (D–Prince William) in response to a question about how close the proposals were. “We have conferred with the leadership of Senate Finance throughout the first several weeks of the session.”
In a statement, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin thanked Torian and Lucas.
Trump wants to move 100K federal jobs out of D.C. What could that look like?
Reported by WAMU’s Margaret Barthel
Janet Ady didn’t want to leave her job leading a team at the Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency that oversees wide swaths of U.S. public lands. She loved her work supporting the BLM’s education, interpretation and volunteer programs across the country.
But in 2019, President Donald Trump's administration announced plans to break up the BLM’s D.C. office, moving teams to offices across the West and opening a new headquarters in Grand Junction, Colorado. Ady’s team would head to New Mexico.
Ady retired in January 2020 instead of moving. She shared her last day in the office with 60 other people who’d made the same choice.
“Everywhere you went, you’re saying goodbye to somebody,” she recalled. “It was huge.”
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth
- Owner of burned-down Lakeside burger joint beats arson charge after 2-day jury trial (Richmond BizSense)*
- ‘Disgusting’ or deliberate? Stafford supervisors debate ripple effects of Trump’s DEI order (Fredericksburg Free Press)
- White nationalist group recruiting at Orange County High School (The Daily Progress)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
